Theme Of Love In William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

2396 words - 10 pages

Theme of Love in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

"Romeo and Juliet" is one of the most famous love stories ever
written. In writing this play William Shakespeare focuses on Arthur
Brooke's poem, "The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet". There have
been many adaptations of "Romeo and Juliet" and the plays are still
being performed in theatres across the world. A recent and modernised
version of the play was made by a director called Baz Lohman. The film
focussed more on the love and was less dramatic than the play. The
last scene was also altered and left out the last and most dramatic
parts.

The play opens with the chorus, it is a sonnet and has a rhyme scheme
of A, B, A, B through out. The chorus sets the scene and environment
of the play. The chorus gives the audience the summary of the play.

The play begins with two Capulet servants, Sampson and Gregory. Later
Abram and Balthasar, who are both Montague's, enter the scene and a
fight breaks out between them all. Tybalt, of the Capulet's is ready
for a fight but Benvolio, a Montague comes to stop the fight and keep
the peace. Tybalt refuses the offer of peace and says,

"What! Drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word,

As I hate hell, all Montague's, and thee.

Have at thee, coward!"

Shakespeare does this because he wants the audience to experience the
hate between the Capulet's and the Montague's, before the play
advances any further. This may cause a stir of emotions among the
audience, mainly excitement. This would be a good chance for
Shakespeare to use special effects like blood and sound effects.

In the second part of Act 1, Scene 1, Romeo enters the scene and
Benvolio tries to find out why Romeo is do down and upset. Benvolio
finds out that is lovesick because he is in love with a woman called
Rosaline, but unfortunately for his sake the love is unrequited. Romeo
tells Benvolio that he is in love and Benvolio says, "Alas that love,
so gentle in his view, Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!"
Romeo shows his feelings and replies, "Alas that love, whose view is
muffled still, Should without eyes see pathways to his will! â€¦ Why
then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O anything of nothing first
create. O heavy lightness, serious vanityâ€¦" We learn from the quote
that Romeo is helplessly in love and blames cupid for what he is going
through.

Romeo wakes up early in the morning going for walks and contemplates
on what he is going to do. He describes Rosaline to Benvolio, but he
is reluctant to tell him her name.

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